Rejoicing in Tribulation

LOUISA MAY WHINNOM

Many of us, even when bowed beneath a burden of sin, sickness, or sorrow, have been bidden to rejoice. Not a few of us have failed to do so, thinking that happiness could not be found in the midst of trial. Yet Paul, the mighty apostle, who himself endured great tribulation, reminded his hearers that they must rejoice.

Let us look closely at the word "tribulation." We find that it is derived from the Latin tribulum, meaning "a sledge for rubbing out corn." Hitherto tribulation may have seemed to be an extraneous, hard experience which had been thrust upon us and which we would rather have done without; now we may see in the overcoming of it necessary steps in our progress.

The meaning just given may also be taken as implying that we must exercise individual effort in separating the false from the true in consciousness. Perhaps the most desirable moral quality in surmounting tribulation is honesty. Indeed, we cannot even begin to eliminate error from our thinking until we are fully prepared to be honest with ourselves and others. What if this pure desire should uncover some unlovely mortal thoughts? Their unloveliness but shows their unreality, since God is All, and all that He makes is good. How glad we are to have uncovered to us, either by our own prayerful thinking or by the pure thought of another, those false beliefs and fears which would hinder our progress! Surely, this is rejoicing in tribulation.

Willingness to obey the truth is another requirement. This involves the rejection of the unlovely traits which honesty has laid bare, and leads us on to the acceptance of meekness. So pride, self-seeking, and envy yield to meekness or humility.

The prophet Micah bids us "arise and thresh," and Isaiah prophesies the full and final revelation of Truth which will enable us to do this when he interprets God as saying, "Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff." This sharp instrument is none other than the truth about God and man as revealed in Christian Science. No mountain of error can stand against this revealed truth, nor any condition arise which cannot be met and mastered by it. On page 586 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy defines "fan" as "separator of fable from fact; that which gives action to thought." There is ample scope for using these mental instruments, whether it be in the home, office, or workshop.

The current of worldly thinking would sometimes make it appear that the home is a place specially kept for the airing of grievances or for lowering the standard of dignity and courtesy which is usually maintained elsewhere. Viewed in the light of Christian Science, however, home is a hallowed spot, being nothing less than the symbol of heaven itself, where "all things work together for good." Let us then "arise and thresh," discarding impatience, contempt, harshness, petty tyranny, intolerance, faultfinding, and self-pity, thus bringing into view the gentleness, loving consideration, and mutual helpfulness which must always characterize the sons and daughters of God.

To the sick, the prospect of being able to rejoice may seem very remote; but the very rejoicing which arises from the knowledge that no evil, no suffering, is true or lasting, will surely place one in the happy position of being able to use the sharp instrument of spiritual truth persistently and effectually.

Those who experience grief are regarded compassionately as passing through tribulation. This viewpoint is more of an actuality than it often appears to be, for even the grief-stricken consciousness can use the flail of Truth and rejoice again. Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, writes on page 428 of Science and Health, "To divest thought of false trusts and material evidences in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear,—this is the great attainment by means of which we shall sweep away the false and give place to the true. Thus we may establish in truth the temple, or body, 'whose builder and maker is God.'" A close study of this passage will reveal to the sorrowing one the way to peace and happiness, even to rejoicing, for thus is gained some understanding of infinite divine Love and the assurance of those beautiful words, contained in our Leader's poem "Mother's Evening Prayer" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 389; Poems, p. 4), "His arm encircles me, and mine, and all."

What rejoicing to know that none can ever in reality be outside of those everlasting, encircling arms of infinite divine Love! Let us, then, "arise and thresh" with courage, steadfast hope, patient working, and the unfailing holy purpose to separate the fruitless chaff of material thinking from the pure grain of truth "whose seed is in itself"!

As we patiently surmount tribulation, rejoicing in the purifying process of overcoming, we shall share the reward of those whom John saw clad in white robes with palms in their hands, of whom it was said, "These are they which came out of great tribulation."

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